Method of and means for the manufacture of pipe fittings



April 11, 1933. BROWN 1,903,436

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PIPE FITTINGS 7 Filed July 3, 1931 I Inv enZor," ldzrwndflrozdrg l Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED, STATES.

1mm!) BROWN, oar-mm, NEW

mnon or m ms roarr'rnniwir'heruan or rrrnrmnms Application filed m -a, m1. Serial m5) 54:310.

My invention relates to the manufacture of pipe fittings, and more particularly to an improved method of and means for forming pipe fittin s such as elbows, return bends,

5 and the l' e, from tubes of metal such as short lengths of pipe.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved method of and means for making pipe fittings such as elbows and return bends, whereby the same may be readily and economically made from short lengths of pipe, and which fittings will be characterized by having substantially uniform wall thicknesses throughout.

My invention contemplates the manufacture of pipefittings, which may, if desired, be provided with straight tangential extensions at the-ends thereof. The straight end portions may be threaded, or may have flanges attached thereto in any preferred manner, for the purpose of securing the fit tings in the usual manner in the pipe systems in which they are used.

My invention finds a valuable application in the manufacture of pipe fittings, which are adapted to be welded to adjacent lengths of pipe or other fittings without the use of threads or flanges, as is now becoming a common practice.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a metal tube or piece of pipe, from which an elbow is to be formed.

Fig. 2 is a lon 'tudinal sectional view of preferred means or shaping the tube to the elbow form, the parts being shown in the positions assumed at the beginning of the shaping operation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the parts in the positions assumed at the end of the shaping operation.

It will, of course, be understood that the drawing and description herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the SPiIlt of my invention.

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In Fig. 1 of the drawin there is shown a metal tube or a short lengt of pi e 10, from which an elbow fitting is to be firmed. It will be noted that the ends 11 of the tube are obliquely inclined, the length on the long side of the tube being substantially equal to the length of'the arc on the outer side of the finished fitting, plus the length ,of the straight tangential end portions; and the length on the short side of the tube is substantially equal to the length of the arc on the inner side of the finished fitting, plus the length of the straight tangential end portions.

Of course, if the finished fitting is to be made without the straight tangential end portions, the initial lengths correspond merely to the lengths of the respective arcs, and

also, if the ends are to be trimmed for an purpose, suitable allowance is made for suc Referring now to- Figs. 2 and '3 of the drawing, 12 is a forming member, prefermade in circular form and mounted upon a shaft 13. The forming member 12 is provided with an annular groove 14 complemental to the external diameter of the tube from which the fitting is made.

A pair of sleeves 15 are so mounted with respect to the forming member 12 as to be rotatably movable about the axis thereof, the arrangement being such that the axes of the sleeves are at all times tangential to an arc struck from the axis of the formin member. The internal diameter of each 0 the sleeves 15 corresponds to the external ends of the tube 10 with the requisite amount of pressure.

Within each bushing 16 a mandrel 17 is slidably mounted. The diameter of the mandrel 17 corresponds to the internal diameter of the tube 10 from which the fitting is is suitabl sha as at 18 complementally to the cm vatui e f the inniar surface of the outer curve of the wall of the finished fitting.

3 Suitable mechanism, not shown, is provided whereby the ends 18 of the mandrels 17 bear and supportthe outer curve of the wall of the fitting, whereby improper deformation during the forming operation will be prevented.

The relative movement of the various parts is sohcoordinated that, as the tube is sha from the form shown in Fig. 2 to that will be caused to flow in such manner that the'wall thickness of the fi will bemaintained substantially uniform t ughout, the roper shifting of the metal being by the presure of-the bushings 16 against the 39 ends thereof, and l{he ouItJ'er fiurve beingdsupsrtedagainstco apse yt einneren s ii; the mandrels 17. V V

It will be'found that in some instances the pressure the ends of the tube may be soregulatedastocause themetaltoflowin such manner that there will be no tendency of the outer curve to collapse, in which cases the su portin of the same by the inner ends 18 of e man 17 may be dispensed with.

. It will be noted that when the formin :peration is completed, as shown in Fig. 3 o

e drawing, the fitting may be provided with short, straight, and tangentiall extending end portions, and that the en of the fitting may be squared ofi, or otherwise suitabl 'sha a l will course be understood that any desired degree of curvature may be imparted to the tube 10, depending upon the amount 4. of movement of the sleeves 15 and the associatedpartsabout the axis of the forming -Fittingsformedinthismannerwillbeof hall the same' diameter as the inill tial tube. manipulation of the metal is reduced to a minimum, and there is no stretching of the same such as would be likely to cause internal stresses in the finished.

fittuifi. The operations may be carried out rapi y and economically, and where fthe dzraightially extending end rtions are req' u on the fitting,.no su sequent manipulation is n to straighten the u- Ic1aim: Y

L .The method of pipe fittings which consists in a section of metal tube baring obli ue en bending .the same 'anextern curved form, imparting N to theends of the tube during the T =1 ding'operation, and internally support- 7 outercurve-of the tube against 001- lapse ,during the bending operation. 2.iThe method of making pipe fittings fl 'which takmga section of metal own in Fig. 3, the metal of the tubetube having oblique ends, bending the same over an external curved form, and im arting Eeressure to both ends of the tube during the ndi i g operation.

3. e method 015 making pipe fittings which consists in taki tube having oblique en over an external curved gaging the ends of the tube, and imparting pzessure to both ends of the tube during the ndi operation.

a section of metal bending the same form by sleeves en- 4. T e method of making pipe fittings which consists in t a section of metal tube having oblique en bending the same over an external curved form by sleeves engaging the ends of the tube, imparting pressure to both ends of the tube during the bending operation, and internall supporting the outer curve of the tu against collapishe during the bending operation.

5. e method of making pipe fittings which consists in takin a section of metal tube having oblique en s bending the same over an external curved term by sleeves engagingthe ends of the tubes, and imparting pressure to both ends of the tube during the ending operation bybushings movably mounted within the sleeves.

6. The method of making pipe fittings which consists in takin a section of metal tube having oblique en bending the same over an external curved form by sleeves engaging both ends of the tube, imparting I ressure to the ends of the tube during the nding operation by bushings movably mounted within the sleeves, an supporting the outer curve of the tube against collapse during the bending operation by movable internal mandrels.

7. The method of making p which consists in takin tube having oblique en 5, bending the same overan external curved form, engaging both ipe fittings ends of the tube during the bending opera- 10 tion by sleeves corresponding in internal diameter to the external diameter of the tube, imparting pressure to the ends of the tube during the bending operation b bushings movabl mounted within the s eeves, and interna ly supporting the ends of the tube and the outer curve thereof against colla so I during the bending operation by mova le form haviii'g'a groove vcomplem'ental to the a section of metal external diameter of the tube, sleeves for engaging the ends of the tube during the 4 part pressure to the ends of the tube during the bending operation.

11. Means for forming pipe fittings from tubes comprising a curved form over which a section of tube is adapted to be bent, the form having a groove complemental to the external diameter of the tube, sleeves for engaging the ends of the tube during the bending operation, said sleeves being movable about the axis of the form with their respective axes tangential to an arc struck from the axis of the form, bushings slidably mounted in said sleeves adapted to impart to the ends of the tube during the operation.

12. Means for forming pipe fittings from tubes comprising a curved form over which a section of tube is adapted to be bent, the form having a groove complemental to the external diameter of the tube, sleeves for engaging the ends of the tube during the bending operressure ndmg ation, said sleeves being movable about the axis of the form with their respective axes tangential to an arc struck from the axis of the form, bushings slidably mounted in said sleeves adapted to impart ressure to the ends of the tube during the hen ing operation, and mandrels slidably mounted in said bushings, and the ends of said mandrels being shaped complementally to the outer curve of the tube, and adapted to support the same against collapse during the bending operation.

13. Means for forming pi fittings from tubes comprising a curved orm over which a section of tube is adapted to be bent, the form having a groove complemental to the external diameter of the tube, sleeves for engaging the ends of the tube during the bendmg operation, said sleeves being movable about the axis of the form with their respective axes tangential to an arc struck from the axis of the form, bushings slidably mounted in said sleeves ada ted to impart ressure to the ends of them durin the nding operation, and mandrels slidab y mounted in said bushings, said mandrels internally su porting the ends of the tube during the bon ing operation. Y

14. Means for forming ipe fittings from tubes comprising a curv orm over which a section of tube is adapted to be bent, theform having a groove complemental to'the external diameter of the tube, sleeves for en aging the ends of the tube during the bendin opera-' -tion, said sleeves being movable a ut-the axis of the form with their respective 'axes tangential to an arc struck from the axis of the form, bushings slidably mounted in said sleeves adapted to impart pressure to the ends of the tube during the bending operation, and mandrels slidably mounted in said bushings, said mandrels internally supporting the ends of the tube durin the bending operation, and the ends of said mandrels bein shaped complementally to the outer curve 0 the tube and adapted to support the same against collapse during the bending operation.

In testimony whereof, I have I hereunto signed my name.

EDMUND BROWN.

I so 

